Sandos Playacar Riviera Tips and Questions - Page 2

Hockeyguy · 02-25-2013

I will bring some Advil for my back then!

rickfly · 03-07-2013

although sandos are not as plush or new as some of the resorts, they do a decent job , some of the rooms have been remodeled and updated,the beach to the south is awesome and you can snorkel in a neat pool about a km south, the restaurants have a very nice selection and variety, in fact the food there is better than some of the 5 star resorts we have been to, the italian buffet is quite good any night and no reservations needed, great for the kids, the main pool is not real large, but the ocean is. the time share folks never even spoke to us, but i must look really mean i suppose. a short ride into pdc for a 5th ave tour in the evening is great to people watch and see some cool entertainment, senor frogs holds no appeal for me but why not i guess, the plaza north of the ferry pier and lighthouse is fun at night and the fruit ladies have amazing fare there. i also stayed at sandos caracol and enjoyed it too, with the exception of the main pool being overrun with teens and twenties, they have an amazing kids pool and play area, most kids cry when the parents want to pack up and get dinner etc. the beach there is nice also, and the grounds have a cenote you can swim in also, very refreshing and fun.

bwildered · 04-22-2013

My wife and I are returning on May 1. Love this resort. enjoyed the asian ala carte, went to Alux, food was nothing to write home about, but the staff was nice and they gave us a tour of the cave. I just got an email from the resort saying they now have a cupcake bakery and a mini golf course... been 3 years since we were there... can't wait....

jackjackattack · 04-23-2013

WE also enjoyed this resort. Last resort on the beach, so lots of room to walk south and explore. Good entertainment staff when we were there. Food was alright, etc....had a great deal. Haven't been back, as we have gotten away from AI's, but its good for the price.

Jackthesack · 07-13-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hairraizers

We just finished a 2 week stay at Sandos 2 days ago.Great resort.No need for water shoes plenty of sand with no rocks.Security will not let you drag your loungers to the oceanside, only as far as the edge of the volley ball court. The hotel built an artificial reef about a quarter mile down the beach which apparently is attracting quite a few fish. Timeshare is present but not overly pushy. Wetold them No Thanks and they respected that.

When was this reef built ? We were at sandos last year, going back again this summer. We went on a long walk down south at beach. Dont remember to have seen this or people beiing here snorkling.

Emily83g · 07-13-2013

I hear the swim up bar and adult pool is for Select club people only. Did anyone feel it was difficult to get a drink near the beach or pool as regular guest? Are the bars near by?

Jackthesack · 07-13-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emily83g

I hear the swim up bar and adult pool is for Select club people only. Did anyone feel it was difficult to get a drink near the beach or pool as regular guest? Are the bars near by?

The swim up bar your mentioning is located in the adult section in the riviera section which is the newest buildings. First you have adult section, then comes the lobby building, then family building ...haciendas and then down at the beach.

All places have their own pool, and the pool at the adult section has swim up bar for them. The difference is that the adult section only allows adults, rest of the pools are for everyone. Same goes with the bars...

Emily83g · 07-15-2013

I just booked a junior suite with jetted tub but it's not adult section. Can anyone suggest a good area to stay in? I want to be close to the pools and beach.. Any room # or building # suggestions??

**Shammy** · 07-15-2013

What section did you book? The Riviera section? That's where the jr. suites are, but there are also jr. suites in the Hacienda section.

If you booked a jr. suite in the Riviera section, you won't be close to the beach as those rooms are located across the road from the Beach and Hacienda sections. There is a pool there however.

Emily83g · 07-15-2013

I'm not sure actually..

It doesn't say riviera or hacienda. just the Junior Suite with jetted tub was one of the choices.

Emily83g · 07-15-2013

Actually I think I booked the Hacienda section. I booked for Sandos Playacar Beach Resort and NOT Sandos Playacar RIVIERA HOTEL

Jackthesack · 07-15-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emily83g

I just booked a junior suite with jetted tub but it's not adult section. Can anyone suggest a good area to stay in? I want to be close to the pools and beach.. Any room # or building # suggestions??

Sounds like you have booked in family section. You travelling with kids ?

At the beach the rooms are for max 4 people, family and hacienda can have 2+3.

Adult is furthest away from beach, id say its a 6-7min walk.
Family section is a little closer, like 4-5min walk..
Haciendas is 3-4min
The you have beach section which is 1-2min depending on which building.

Last year we were staying in the adult section. They have the biggest pool with swimup bar, but longest way to walk down to beach. But its quiet and lots of sunchairs available all day. We stayed mostly at the pool and some days at beach.

We are staying in the family section this year as we are travelling with 3 kids. Shorter walk to the beach, but prolly not as quiet as the adult.

The section at the beach, which is the older part of the hotel seems a lot more noisy and busy..

when will you be staying here ?

Emily83g · 07-15-2013

It's the hubby and I.. no kids.
I'm not really sure in what section I booked.. all I know it was for I booked for Sandos Playacar Beach Resort - Junior Suite, Jetted Tub

Would you think it's the Hacienda section? Did you like the Hacienda section even if you didn't have kids? We couldn't afford the adults only option but hey, here's hoping for an upgrade.
If not, how are the junior suites in the Hacienda section?

We'll be there September 25-29

Jackthesack · 07-15-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emily83g

It's the hubby and I.. no kids.
I'm not really sure in what section I booked.. all I know it was for I booked for Sandos Playacar Beach Resort - Junior Suite, Jetted Tub

Would you think it's the Hacienda section? Did you like the Hacienda section even if you didn't have kids? We couldn't afford the adults only option but hey, here's hoping for an upgrade.
If not, how are the junior suites in the Hacienda section?

We'll be there September 25-29

Doubt its the hacienda, as I think those are bigger and intended for families. Smal apartments with kiddy pool outside each apartment.

Either you got a junior suite down at the beach, or a riviera junior suite at the family section. Sounds like a junior suite at the beach complex since it doesnt have the riviera name in it.

Jackthesack · 07-15-2013

Look at this map, to the left is the beach, then you see the hacienda apartments spread around in the middle, then comes the family..then lobby and all the way on the right side is the adult

Sandos Playacar Beach Resort Riviera Maya

03-07-2013	#17 (permalink)
rickfly into ruins Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: paradise lost Posts: 75	sandos although sandos are not as plush or new as some of the resorts, they do a decent job , some of the rooms have been remodeled and updated,the beach to the south is awesome and you can snorkel in a neat pool about a km south, the restaurants have a very nice selection and variety, in fact the food there is better than some of the 5 star resorts we have been to, the italian buffet is quite good any night and no reservations needed, great for the kids, the main pool is not real large, but the ocean is. the time share folks never even spoke to us, but i must look really mean i suppose. a short ride into pdc for a 5th ave tour in the evening is great to people watch and see some cool entertainment, senor frogs holds no appeal for me but why not i guess, the plaza north of the ferry pier and lighthouse is fun at night and the fruit ladies have amazing fare there. i also stayed at sandos caracol and enjoyed it too, with the exception of the main pool being overrun with teens and twenties, they have an amazing kids pool and play area, most kids cry when the parents want to pack up and get dinner etc. the beach there is nice also, and the grounds have a cenote you can swim in also, very refreshing and fun.

02-25-2013	#16 (permalink)
Hockeyguy lost on fifth Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 18	I will bring some Advil for my back then!

04-22-2013	#18 (permalink)
bwildered into ruins Join Date: May 2009 Location: Denver Posts: 71	My wife and I are returning on May 1. Love this resort. enjoyed the asian ala carte, went to Alux, food was nothing to write home about, but the staff was nice and they gave us a tour of the cave. I just got an email from the resort saying they now have a cupcake bakery and a mini golf course... been 3 years since we were there... can't wait....

04-23-2013	#19 (permalink)
jackjackattack reposado Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Edmond Oklahoma....Go Pokes! Posts: 1,076	WE also enjoyed this resort. Last resort on the beach, so lots of room to walk south and explore. Good entertainment staff when we were there. Food was alright, etc....had a great deal. Haven't been back, as we have gotten away from AI's, but its good for the price.

07-13-2013	#21 (permalink)
Emily83g life=playa Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 509	I hear the swim up bar and adult pool is for Select club people only. Did anyone feel it was difficult to get a drink near the beach or pool as regular guest? Are the bars near by?

07-15-2013	#23 (permalink)
Emily83g life=playa Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 509	I just booked a junior suite with jetted tub but it's not adult section. Can anyone suggest a good area to stay in? I want to be close to the pools and beach.. Any room # or building # suggestions??

07-15-2013	#24 (permalink)
Shammy Travel Insurance Tester Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Joisey Shore Posts: 18,680	What section did you book? The Riviera section? That's where the jr. suites are, but there are also jr. suites in the Hacienda section. If you booked a jr. suite in the Riviera section, you won't be close to the beach as those rooms are located across the road from the Beach and Hacienda sections. There is a pool there however.

07-15-2013	#25 (permalink)
Emily83g life=playa Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 509	I'm not sure actually.. It doesn't say riviera or hacienda. just the Junior Suite with jetted tub was one of the choices.

07-15-2013	#26 (permalink)
Emily83g life=playa Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 509	Actually I think I booked the Hacienda section. I booked for Sandos Playacar Beach Resort and NOT Sandos Playacar RIVIERA HOTEL

07-15-2013	#28 (permalink)
Emily83g life=playa Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 509	It's the hubby and I.. no kids. I'm not really sure in what section I booked.. all I know it was for I booked for Sandos Playacar Beach Resort - Junior Suite, Jetted Tub Would you think it's the Hacienda section? Did you like the Hacienda section even if you didn't have kids? We couldn't afford the adults only option but hey, here's hoping for an upgrade. If not, how are the junior suites in the Hacienda section? We'll be there September 25-29

07-15-2013	#30 (permalink)
Jackthesack sandflea Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Norway - Stavanger Posts: 6	Look at this map, to the left is the beach, then you see the hacienda apartments spread around in the middle, then comes the family..then lobby and all the way on the right side is the adult Sandos Playacar Beach Resort Riviera Maya